Abstract: An actuator system comprising a rotatable lock mechanism defining a path for an actuator pin as the actuator is expanded and retracted, wherein the lock mechanism defines an entry passage through which the pin enters as the actuator extends, a guide surface along which the pin travels from the entry passage as the actuator retracts, a locking recess into which the pin is guided by the guide surface, and an exit passage into which the pin is guided as it is caused to leave the lock recess by extension of the actuator and subsequent retraction; whereby a detent surface is provided to prevent the pin returning back into the lock recess when the actuator is extended to cause the pin to leave the lock recess; and whereby the lock mechanism provides a sloping engagement surface for the pin, either side of the entry passage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus (100) for forming circumferential grooves (14) in the exterior surface of a linear member (10), such as a tube. The grooves are formed by rotating a cylindrical cutting element (120) around the tube such that cutting means in the cylindrical cutting element form the grooves. One rotation of the cylindrical cutting element causes multiple grooves to be formed in the surface of the tubes.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing endodontic instruments by milling. A provided metallic (e.g., a nickel-titanium alloy or stainless steel) thread or wire having a longitudinal axis is advanced along its longitudinal axis at a feedrate while contacting at least a portion of the metallic thread or wire with a plurality of rotating milling heads so as to remove portions of the thread or wire and yield a metallic rod including a cutting portion having a plurality of cutting edges.

Abstract: A spiral spline groove machine apparatus for manufacturing a sealed spiral spline pipe connection by machining spiral grooves into the bell and spigot end of a length of pipe. A rotating cutter is adapted to cut a spiral groove in the inside of the bell of the pipe or machine the recessed external groove on the male end of the pipe. The cutter is adapted to float on the surface contour of the pipe to allow for variations in the wall thickness of the pipe and provide a consistent depth for the cut in the wall of the pipe without regard to the symmetry of the circular cross section of the pipe. An exit port machining device is also disclose to cut an exit port connected to the inside spiral groove on the bell end of the pipe. Another unique aspect of the invention is the use of a rotational to linear converter using a lead screw to move an entire rotating assembly having the motor output fixed directly to the cutter without an expansion joint.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing endodontic instruments are provided. Methods relate to milling a blank with a cutting process to shape the instrument. Instruments so produced are also provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a machine for the chip-forming machining and the measurement of gears and screw-type workpieces. Arranged on a swivel head (6) swivellable about an axis (A) at right angles to the rotary axis of the workpiece (4) are functional units (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) with machining and measuring tools (10, 12, 14, 15, 17) which are displaceable radially and parallel relative to the swivel axis (A), which said tools can be brought consecutively into engagement with the workpiece (4), thus making possible the application of different tools (10, 12, 14, 15, 17) and machining techniques in the same work set-up without colliding. The work spindle (1) is driven by electric motor either directly or via a gear unit.

Abstract: Spiral electrodes and similar structures are manufactured using a high-pressure fluid stream. Specifically, spiral electrodes are made from tubular structures by using a high-pressure water stream to precisely cut, or etch spirals of predetermined geometries to conform to a particular current distribution and conduction requirements. In an embodiment, the high-pressure water stream is tangentially and rotatably oriented against a rotating and translating tubular element. The tangential orientation enables limited cutting or etching of the tubular surface that is only in direct contact with the high pressure stream. Various geometries and spiral structures could be formed by managing the pressure and rotation of the high-pressure water stream source and the rotation and translation of the tubular element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for producing a curved tooth. Apparatus are adapted to perform a method that includes the steps of providing a workpiece, providing a tool, and providing relative movement between the tool and the workpiece such that the tool moves along a first curved path relative to the workpiece to define a first curved surface of a tooth in the workpiece. The relative movement can be accomplished by substantially simultaneous translation of at least one of the tool and the workpiece along a first linear axis and a second linear axis that is perpendicular to the first linear axis. Methods are also disclosed for compensating for deviations in a tool path.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing pipe joints for connecting two pipe sections in a well bore allows the pipe joint to have increased resistance to compressive and torsional forces. Each pipe joint has a box member for matingly engaging a pin member, the pin member being threadingly connected to the box member to create the pipe joint. Threads are created for the pin member on a tapered exterior surface of a pipe, the threads being axially disposed between a pin end terminal surface and an external shoulder. A tapered surface having a recess is created for the box member on an interior of a pipe, the tapered surface being axially located between a box end terminal surface of the pipe and an internal shoulder, the recess being axially located just behind the box end terminal surface of the pipe. Threads are cut into the tapered surface of the box member, the threads beginning behind the recess and traveling axially away from the box end terminal surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus has been developed for metal cutting machine using a cutting die tool that pivots as it cuts a metal workpiece. By pivoting the cutting tool, the orientation of the metal surface being cut in the workpiece may be varied along the cutting path. A particular application of the invention is for screw metal cutting machine, e.g., a Swiss-type screw lathe, that cuts screw threads in screw blank rods, such that the threads have a variable cant along the length of the screw. The cutting die tool is mounted in a tool holder that is pivoted by a computer controller in accordance with machining instructions for the screw or other device being machined.

Abstract: In an otherwise conventional, mechanically controlled lathe the workpiece support spindle can be disconnected from the main mechanical drive transmission and coupled to the main drive motor via a second mechanical transmission which can introduce an angular offset between the workpiece support spindle and a milling tool that is proportional to the travel along the feed axis of a toolholder carriage carrying the milling tool. The angular offset is introduced by a coupling sleeve coupling two transmission half-shafts via helical teeth to transmit movement to the workpiece support spindle. The coupling sleeve is moved axially by the toolholder carriage. In this way straight threads and helical threads with a large pitch can be cut on an otherwise conventional lathe.

Abstract: A system performing a conical transition from a shaft to the core diameter of a worm is disclosed. The disclosed system includes inserting a rough milling machine in an axial direction before a disk milling machine used for milling the worm. The rough milling machine is especially manufactured integrally with the disk milling machine. The teeth of the rough milling machine are shorter than the teeth on the disk milling machine, and the teeth of the rough milling machine preferably define a truncated-cone shaped covering.

Abstract: A platform for supporting an engraving head in a manner accommodating translational movement without any associated rotation. The platform has a deck which is supported by a pair of flexible support columns. In operation the platform is situated alongside a rotating printing cylinder. The engraving head is mounted on the deck of the platform and is provided with a guide shoe which rides against the surface of the printing cylinder. As the cylinder rotates to angular positions having different radii, the engraving head responds with a purely linear reaction. Consequently the engraving head is able to engrave uniform-depth cavities in the surface of the printing cylinder. In two alternative embodiments the deck is driven by a resilient link arrangement which is coupled to a leadscrew and carriage assembly.

Abstract: A wood tapping machine includes a cutting device formed on a machine body which has a tapping rod extending horizontally from the cutting device. A guiding path is formed on the machine body and has a toolrest which is disposed slidably thereon. The toolrest includes a base member and a cylindrical casing that has two arms extending therefrom and connected pivotally to the base member. A driving rod connects the base member and the cylindrical casing and maintains the cylindrical casing parallel to the tapping rod of the cutting device. The cylindrical casing can swing relative to the base member when the driving rod rotates about its axis. A main shaft is threadedly and rotatably disposed through the cylindrical casing. The main shaft has a chuck assembly at one end and a rotation wheel at another end thereof.

Abstract: For machining male or female screws, especially of considerably large size diameter, variable pitch or tapered, as desired, a machining center is used which is composed of a work table mounting the work fixedly thereon, and a rotatable machining spindle exchangeably fitted with a thread-cutting tool. Axial feed and rotational speed of the spindle are driven by respective drive motors. In addition, the work table is fed bilaterally on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spindle by respective feed motors. All these four motors are controlled synchronously by respective controllers which are subjected to control by a single parent numerical controller.

Abstract: For machining male or female screws, especially of considerably large size diameter, variable pitch or taper, as desired, a machining center is used which is composed of a work table mounting the work fixedly thereon, and a rotatable machining spindle exchangeably fitted with a thread-cutting tool. Axial feed and rotational speed of the spindle are driven by respective drive motors. In addition, the work table is fed bilaterally on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spindle by respective feed motors. All these four motors are controlled synchronously by respective controllers which are subjected to control by a single parent numerical controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a speed reduction apparatus for globoid worm gears. The speed reduction ratio of the engaged worm globoid worm gear and worm wheel is defined as the ratio of the rate of rotation of the globoid worm gear about its axis to the rate of rotation of the worm wheel about its axis. The structure of the present invention speed reduction apparatus is defined by the distance between the axes of rotation of the worm wheel and globoid worm gear and the spacial and speed relationships between the globoid worm gear and the surfaces of the cutting tool employed to generate the worm gear.

Abstract: What is proposed is a drilling attachment for use with a machine tool that rotates a workpiece in which the drilling apparatus is moved into an operative position to the workpiece by means of the machine tool slide and is rotated with the workpiece so that a drilling member associated with the rotating drilling apparatus is caused to rotate and to enter the workpiece while the same is rotating.

Abstract: A dividing head assembly comprises concentric outer and inner primary and secondary shafts journalled in a body member having a base for mounting the assembly on a machine tool bed in juxtaposition to a cutter. The inner shaft is coupled for rotation with the outer shaft and is axially slidably mounted in the outer shaft. The inner shaft has a workpiece holder at one end and a collar at the other end formed with a master thread and/or a master cam profile. A gear drive is provided for rotating the shafts, and the body member carries a follower for engaging the respective cam profile or master thread so that on rotation of the drive means the workpiece holder is provided with controlled rotation accompanied by axial movement thereof governed by the cam profile or master thread, for screw or cam forming a workpiece.

Abstract: A milling machine for milling a radial projection on an elongated workpiece such as a camshaft. A milling head is provided with a plurality of cutting elements mounted in a circular arrangement on a conical face portion thereof. The head is supported with its axis of rotation so oriented with respect to the workpiece that when rotated the cutting elements move in a path the plane of which forms an angle of less than 90.degree. with the longitudinal axis of the workpiece.

Abstract: A relief thread grinding machine for making screw taps wherein a workpiece 10 is clamped to a resiliently mounted body 5 of a longitudinally adjustable sled 1. The body carries a follower wheel 17 which bears on a cam roller 15 rotatably mounted on the sled. The surface of the cam roller is eccentrically lobed so that when it is axially moved varying oscillation strokes of the body 5 are produced. The cam roller can be axially adjusted as needed during the grinding process so that the amount of relief grind can be changed. In this manner it is possible to provide the conical thread on the lead end of a tap with a different relief grind than the generally cylindrical and posteriorly weak conical thread on the guide end of the tap.

Abstract: A dowel threading device comprised of a conventional router having a horizontal base, a power means on the base, and a vertically disposed cutting bit extending downwardly and outwardly from the base. A dowel threading attachment is secured underneath the base and has a vertically disposed bore adapted to receive the lower end of the cutting bit. A horizontal bore extends through said base member and is in communication with the vertically disposed bore. The horizontal bore is threaded at one side of the vertically disposed bore. The method of this invention comprises inserting a dowel into the end of the unthreaded horizontal bore, rotating the dowel about its horizontal axis as the dowel moves into contact with the rotating cutting bit, and engaging the threaded end of the dowel with the threaded portion of the horizontal bore so that the further longitudinal movement of the dowel through the bore will be controlled by the engagement of the dowel with the threaded portion of the horizontal bore.